Wheel cover



June 22, 1948. G. A.'LYON WHEEL COVER Filed Nov. 1, 1943 Patented june22;, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE George Albert Lyon, Allenhurst,N. J. Application November 1, 1943, Serial No. 508,468

9 Claims. (Cl. 301-37) The present invention is directed to an improvedwheel structure and relates more particularlyto an improved coverassembly therefor.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide for a wheelstructure, an improved cover assembly and. particularly improvedretaining means for maintaining the cover assembly over the outer sidethereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide for a wheelstructure a cover assembly for disposition over the outer side thereof,said cover assembly being formed from a locally flexible, temporarily,resiliently distortible material such as sheet synthetic plastic or thelike, whereby it is provided with characteristics enabling it to beself-sustaining and form retaining and yet resiliently deflectable toprovide access to the rear side thereof for servicing a tire valve orother appurtenances associated with the wheel structure.

It is a further object of the invention to provide for a wheelstructure, an improved cover assembly having a radially outer annularpart formed from locally, temporarily, resiliently, flexible material,said annular cover portion extending radially outwardly to a pointbeyond the radially outer extremity of the wheel with which it isassociated and having improved retaining means for maintaining the sameover the outer side of the wheel structure, said retaining means beingso arranged as .to provide for floating movement of the outer peripheralpart of the annular cover portion, whereby said part may move radiallyinwardly under the influence of abutment by a laterally expanded tire inthe wheel structure in the event that the tire is accidentally deflatedduring use. I

It is a further object of the present invention to provide fordisposition over the outer side of a wheel structure having a tire rimand a central load bearing portion, a circular cover, said cover havingan outer annular portion provided with a cross-sectional configurationof such shape and magnitude that it extends generally from the outerpart of the tire rim radially inwardly beyond the junction between therim and the central load bearing portion and generally simulates theside wall of a tire in the tire rim, thereby to give the appearance ofbeing a continuation thereof and to give the appearance of being a whiteside wall of a massive tire mounted on a wheel structure, when coloredwhite.

It is a, rurther object of the present invention to provide fordisposition over the outer side of a wheel structure,'a cover assemblyincluding an outer annular cover portion, the outer part of whichextends generally into the vicinity of the radially outer extremity ofthe tire rim and circular retaining means for engaging withsubstantially the radially outer part of the cover and the edge portionof a tire rim over which the cover is disposed to attach the cover tothe wheel structure.

' It is a still further object of the invention to provide for a wheelstructure, an improved cover assembly in which the outer portion thereofis arranged to detachably engage the tire rim of a wheel over which itis disposed, there being additional, circular retaining means forengaging the radially outer part of the cover and the radially outerpart of the'tire rim of a wheel over which the cover is disposed toaugment the attached relationship between the cover and the wheel.

It is still another important object of the present invention to providefor disposition over the outer side of a wheel structure, a :circularcover member having a radially outer portion arranged to detachablyengage a portion of the wheel and having at the radially outer partthereof, a circular ornamental bead member which serves as astrengthening and rigidifying medium and also serves as an ornamentalborder for the cover. I

In accordance with the general features of the present invention asshown in certain embodiments herein, there is provided for dispositionover the outer sideof a wheel structure having a tire rim and a centralload bearing portion, a resiliently flexible circular cover having anedge terminating in the vicinity of the edge portion of the tire rim,said edge being arranged for interlocking engagement with the edgeportion of the tire rim and being further interlockingly engaged with acircular reinforcing member made from relatively rigid material, thisreinforcing mem'ber serving as a radially outward continuation of thecover member to provide an ornamental border or bead therefor.

In accordance with other forms of the invention shown herein, theornamental, reinforcing border or bead member is arranged to extendradially outwardly beyond the edge portion of the tire nim so as toconceal the junction between'the same and a tire in the rim, the coverand the ornamental bead being so arranged that they may float radiallyinwardly upon engagement of a laterally expanded, deflated tiretherewith;

Many other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description and accompanying drawings inwhich:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a wheel structure embodying oneform of my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional en larged view of theconstruction shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged cross-sectional view of a modifiedform of my invention.

It will be understood that the embodiments disclosed-herein areforxillustrative purposes only and may be changed or modified withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in theappended claims.

In the construction shown in Figures 1 and 2, the wheel assembly withwhich my .inventionis associated includes a tire rim l ll having a baseflange H to which may be secured, as by welding or riveting or the like,an axially inwardly extending peripheral skirt I2a of a central load bean qtt en .2- "f fh eehtre tlead h ar n portion is further (provided,withi a radially ,in er bolton flange lg31to which may be secured inany suitable ,manner,.,as by bolts vor .the like, an ap o ri r on a thvehic e s a e bre e hm e tlik h th r m 4 t {is li t 1 p ovid d ith eposite side wall flanges M, opposite intermediate fiahee t5 a ee eiteede portion ltrbe e whi h are dis e -ei i el l Pne matic t e h vin anhhe tube 4' provide with a alve stem is, thistvalve .stem being arrangedto extehtl thr u h-ieemt blee er t intad a ei e-Weltfiense lThe q e kembl shown i ih sh -e 1 d 2 axially inwardly .behind :the hump ,providedby the circular-extremity of'the edge portion Hi.

When the cover is in this position it will be .seen that the flange 24and, in fact, the entire ihelhd e diek l k tm m e avi a a ally en erehhhle orti 2.0 tim t d e y inner circulancrowned,portion 2 I,,these,portionslbeing joined by a circular junction portion 22 .-crosseeetiehell e shr te e t nt .eeiel we id y h into su port n bu me w t Janesi eee {porti n e th e te u r e e th ce tral load bearin-g portion 2."Preferably the cover aesemblyin h i e ee t n a d a i orm Im e eet h heie n astie mate e e th l i the eb .to he eeha acterist e enab n it t bese u tainin a d e m re ainin and t Jocally resiliently flexible. Thus itwill [be seen tha in th ev nt e e se eme t 9 th ent a emitte per e iwithI u hi ge -th -l k tha mitten-t h ndent i lh e e il bu wil sprin aiall ehtwer-d immed atel 11P0I1 th relief a dist ing pressure thetremsink i er -.t11. a nular P tio ZD whi h i intende w t a per 20a trou h \whieh the route ehd re th re e stein J ma he e ee ihl the h ex daxia y inward e inde l ne ihisu hereby h Qt end 9 the va ve stemrh ru eeeut ell h ehiem t a ord e p ee ien th -I1Q?TZ.18 of an a he theret IQZLflQ iIX th th th e id tha the i e a semb y ma ,he Securely retainedupon the wheel structure, the radiall rou mats nal pa t t e ee i te me'nro itl eehenellyex a y nward x endin H flan hich i 'p yided w h a pqlon =2}! bent-Pee he o ex nd g ner l axial ou dl ref rab y t h h k ehe1,2 is provided with a cross-sectional curvature such tha i g al e n msthe eonfieuratieh er a ad al i ward o enin a oov o m d b th radial inwrd y ieliir ed e ee he i n vIt e the tire rim. It is contemplated thatwhen in netme =u e teehed me -tion, h ettele describ by he .fienee 2. w,he ee ewh t-leree tha cross-sectional expanse of the circular covermember will be placed under a condition of stress due .to the.confinement of the flange 24 in the groove of the edge portion [6 ofthe tire rim l0. Under these circumstances the attachment between thewheel and the cover is maintained under pressure and a secure,detachable engagem e -i att ihedv To ithe end that the radially outermargin of the .coyer membermay be prothted against abrasi n or d elodsmy" e di e and erhame t 'ihere'ie provided herein shimme sp t, membe25:wh eh-ien d wi heg nerally rad ally e tending, axially "outwardlconyex' intermediate portion 25 and axially wardlmcurledsbe nt back flanes 2: an 26. .As iyflLh -see rom Fi ure e 2 he ne L2 eh ablyeplitatzfia.

After the cover ,member has been applied to h w e etruetu e i the aorementioned manner, the,;sp1it ring ,25 may be curl d into open ee eand ar n .at'e e ren the ee th flange {28 may be sprung progressivelyinto the recess formed between the flange 23 and ,flange 2 o the eevmemher w t zthe ext mi y-9 the fla ge lii pith? in -r sting ti l netwirdly ex an in nd t on again h radially inner surface of the extremityof the rlan gej, thereb to further au ment the at a hment thereof totheredge pQIitiQ J55 of the tire ri [U3- w e gther elt s nse t d hv h fqemehi -h -asesi e by p esre e v ins tion o he rad a ly ihher ha ththereei h n h d e p01- tiQh ztfirq t the im i t wi e e seen tha t e att chmentefth flan 4 t h he hi turei te e ei sm htedie d u t etmere w eee h t ath intetmed ate epertion te h tee ex end r m al y out a dly her n/ itheedee e ien d t heeal the-J nette b w e the eam end he tir hi addsgreatly to th apnea tanee Q i he; em led stuntememhtmthe mereee i ease.t yem himr e fthera el ente the ex "it e e e and ar cularly the tethetunefle :28 he i e n itheeahhula e e portion 20 and the axially inwardlyextending flan e rzfi- (Rhee eheul ith yeh e e a e d ye a ainst w itinwit eueh thre tha th s de wall e :th ire it pres ed .ex hy nw rdly threed th a ia en e extremi y the whee and eye co stru tio th m ne 15 whch is p eferably :PQl'hSfifllWQd i e ta' hle e ,et e an preided awc ahigh rel h e c mm t ed r m re u a .e e and r i ed wit e .e rem fin sh,is en a d b the cur-hin ee that th el ivel mer l irel ehleeh e eyhth tiep astic mat ria ie eteete Inte ne iceithe-eeveree emmyitromithe y heelst uctur t w l t e seen tha the ope at r need merel dre th time 5axially ou wardl by finger engagement a a nst the radi ll mi er part thre f in h vicin ty the split 25a, yhe eu en the ring ma (be lge egrssmel emeved th m. amend th t re Eh ea te the 5 point of a pry-off.toolx may be. inserted in 'the recess between the flanges 23 and 24 ofthe cover and-the edge portion may be used as a fulcrum so that radialinward movement of the point-of thepry-off tool will dislodge the flange24 -ofthe cover from the edge portion l6 of the tire rim. 1 With theforegoin construction it will be seen that in the event that the tire ispunctured and thus becomes accidentally deflated and assumes an extremelaterally expanded position, the tire will engage the rounded surfaceprovided by the flange21 of the ring 25' whereby-the ring, at the pointengaged, will float inwardly and carry the flexible cover memberradially inwardly away from the edge portion-of the tire rimuntil thiszdistorting pressure is relieved, whereupon the parts will assume theirnormal position without any damage having been done.

'The construction shown in Figure 3 includes a Wheel structure and tireassembly identical to that shown in Figure 2. In this'construction thecover assembly possesses all of the attributes of the assembly showninFigures 1 and 2 and described above. However, in this construction,the-cover is provided-at the radially-outer portion.thereof with agenerally axially inwardly extending flange 3| which is provided with acircular, radially outwardly opening recess 32 into which the radiallyinner flange 33 of a ring 34 maybeseated. In other words, it will beseen that in this construction, as differentiated from that of Figure 2,the ring 34 ismaintained upon the wheel structure by direct engagementwith the groove 32in the cover member 30 instead of being detachablysecured to the edge portion i6 of the tire rim [0.

When the construction of Figure 3 is arranged in foregoingmanner it willbe seen that the arcuate intermediate portion 35 of the ring 34 extendsradially outwardly of the edge portion N5 of the tire rim to conceal thejunction between the same and the tire I! and that here again, theassembly is so arranged that the ring 34 protects the cover againstdamage by abrasion or abutment against curbing or the like. 'Furthermoreit will be seen that should the tire be punctured and thus accidentallyassume an extreme laterally expanded condition, the tire side wall willabut the rounded surface formed by the turned back flange 3-6 at theradially outer part of the ring 34.

What I claim is:

1. In a wheel structure having a central load bearing portion and a tirerim, including edge portions extending generally axially outwardly andcurled slightly radially inwardly to provide a generally radiallyinwardly openin groove at the radially inner side thereof, a coverassembly including a cover member having the characteristics of beingself-sustaining as to form and yet locally, resiliently, temporarilyflexible so as to spring back into normal configuration when distortingpressures are relieved therefrom, said cover being provided at theradially outer margin thereof with a generally axially extending,integral flange of cross-sectional configuration conforming to theconfiguration of the radially inner surface of the edge portion of thetire rim, thereby to be adapted for nested, retaining engagement in saidradially inwardly opening groove defined by said edge portion, andrigidifying, protective means in said assembly including a ring memberhaving a body portion extending radially outwardly beyond the edgeportion of the tire rim and having a radially inner part arranged 'for'engagement against the radially inner surface of said axially extendingflange of'the cover which is disposed-in nested relationship with theedge portion'of the tire rim.

' 2."In a wheel structure having a central load bearing portion and atire rim provided with an edge portion extending generally axiallyoutwardly and curled slightly radially inwardly to define a radiallyinwardly opening groove,-a cover assembly having physicalcharacteristics enabling it to be self-sustaining as to form and yetlocally, resiliently, temporarily flexible so that it 'Willspring backto initial, normal configuration when distorting pressures-are relievedtherefrom, said cover having at the radially outer margin thereof, agenerally axiallyextending flange cross-sectionally shaped to conform tothe configuration of the radially inwardly opening groove defined by theedge portion of the'tire rim so as to be disposed in nested, retainedengagement in said groove when the cover is at tached to the wheelstructure, said cover mem ber having a generally radially outwardlyfacing circular g-lOoVe formed therein at a point radially inwardly ofsaid axially extending flange and a generally radially extendingrigidifying annulus having aradially inner portion arranged to interfitin said groove in the cover member to be retained thereon and alsohaving a portion extending radially outwardly beyond the edge portion ofthe tire rim.

3. In a wheel structure having a central load bearing portion and a tirerim provided with an edge portion extending generally axially out-"wardly and curled slightly radially inwardly to deflne a radiallyinwardly opening groove, a cover assembly having physicalcharactersitics ena-' blin it to be self-sustaining as to form and yetlocally, resiliently, temporarily flexible so that it will spring backto initial, normal configuration when distorting pressures are relievedthere'- from, said cover having at the radially outer margin thereof, agenerally axially extending flange cross-sectionally shaped to conformto the configuration of the radially inwardly extending groove definedby the edge portion of the tire rim so as to be disposed in nested,retained engagement in said groove when the coveris attached to thewheel structure, said cover member having a generally radially facingcircular roove formed therein and a generally radially extendingrigidfying annulus havin a radially inner portion arranged to interfitin said groove in the cover member to be retained therewith upon thewheel structure and also having a por-,

tion extending radially outwardly beyond the edge portion of the tirerim.

4. In a wheel structure having a central load bearing portion and a tirerim provided with a flange portion extending generally axially outwardland formed to define a radially inwardly opening groove, a cover memberhaving resilient characteristics, said cover member having at theradially outer marginal portion thereof an outwardly opening groovedformation defined at its radially outer side by a generally axiallyoutwardly extending flange cross sectionally shaped to engageretainingly in the radially inwardly opening groove in said tire rimflange, and an annulus attached to the cover member in substantiallyconcealing relation to said axially outwardly opening peripheral groove.

5. In a wheel structure havin a central load bearing portion and a tirerim provided with a flange portion extending generally axially outsmegma-mrdly and .forineduto define {a radially inwardly amning zgrooveaaeorertmember shaving resilient ehamrteristics said rcoyerwmember havingat the radiall outer marginal portion iiiaereofanoutmamdly ropening.grooved formation defined at its radially outer side jby agenerallyaxially outward- 1y extending flange cross sectionally shaped to engageretainingly in the raidially inwardlyopeningc movein said ti-re rimflange, and an annulus attached :to atheqcover member [in substantiallyconcealing relation to said axially outwardly opening wperinheral:groove, said annulus bein flexible and arranged to extend radiallyoutwardly with respect to the-cover member to a Point :radiallyoutwardly of the radially outer extremity of ithe tire land beinarranged :to hex rradially inwardly upon bei subjected to radial inwardpressures by abutment with a-deflated. tire in the rim .or with curbing:or: the like. :6. an article of manufacture, a rcircular cover memberhaving an outer marginal forma- Iiion extending axial-1y, then radiallyoutwardly and t'hen in reverse axial direction with thelatter. @Dortionformed to conform generally with .an'dretaining-ly'engagein a radiallyinwardly opening groove-rformation in a tire rim :fiange, there beingaspace between the radially outer portion ,and the radiallyinner portionof said peripheral Fforma-tion defining a groove at the periphery ofthe-wheel cover member, and a bordering annulus secured to the cover-member and substantially eoncealingsaidgroove. 7 an :article ofmanufacture, .a circular cave! member having an outer marginalformationire-xtending axially, .then radially outwardly and then inreverse axial direction with the latter port-ion formed to =oonformgenerally with and .retainingly engage in a radially inward1y openinggroove formation in a' tire :rim flange, there being a space between theradiall ,outer portion and the radially inner portion of said peripheralformation defining .a groove at the periphery of the wheel cover member,and a bordering annulus secured to the cover member and substantially-;concealing said groove, :said bordering annulus having an innermarginal .portion extending .intoithe groove in the .cover member andbeing of a width to extend beyondsaid radially outer portion of themarginal formation.

- :As "an =zarlsiele rof mianufaoture, 1a. coircniar cover member havinganxou ter marginaldformalion-extending axially, :then radially outwardlyandnthen in reverse axialdirection with the :latterportion'tormedtoronfiorm:generallywith and retaininglyznengage in a radiallyinwardly openingszgroove formation in a tire rim *flange, there beingea:space :between the radially outer portion and the radially-innerportion of saidperipheral -iiorm-ation defining :a groove at theperiphery 40f the wheel hover member, zaborderinganmilus secured to'theicover'member and substantially concealing-saidgroove, said annulushaving :an inner marginal :formation extending generally axiallyzandithen radiadiy-outwardly and the axially :extend-ingportion of themarginal formation of: the annulus retaining'ly engaging at the radiallyinner side of :said:axiallyiextending"retaining portion of said marginal"formation of the cover member.

19. 1A5 an article :of manufacture, a circular cover member haying-anouter marginal formation extending axially, 'then radially outwardly andthen iii-reverse axial direction with the latter-zporti'on formed toIconic-rm generally with and retainingly engage in a radiallyinwardly-opening. groove formation in a tirerim'fiangathere being-"aspace between the radially "outer portion and the radially :innerportion of said peripheral formation defining a groove :at the peripheryof--,t-he=iwheel cover ,member, and a :bordering annulus secured to thecover member. and substantia-l-ly ooneealingsaid groove, said annulushaving an inner ;mar,ginal portion engaging against the radiallyoutwardly facingsideof the radially inner axially extending of saidmarginal formation of theoover member.

GEORGE ALBERT LYON.

REFERENCES CITED The 'fioliowing'ireferences are-o1" record i-n thefilelbf this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Lyon Nov. '8, 1938

